Reproducing apparatus



Sept. 11, 1956 H. KLEINSTRA REPRODUCING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledJune 5, 1953 i ,A m

Sept. 11, 1956 H. KLElNsTRA REPRODUCING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJune 5, 1951 i; mw

Sept 1l, 1956 H. KLEINsTRA 2,762,281

REPRODUCING APPARATUS Filed June 5, 1955 I5 Sheets-Sheet 5 REPRODUCIN GAPPARATUS Harm Kleinstra, Utrecht, Netherlands, assignor, by mesneassignments, to A. B. Dick Company, Niles, Ill., a coru poration ofIllinois Application June 5, 1953, Serial No. 359,902 Claims priority,application Netherlands June 7, 1952 9 Claims. (C1. 95-89) The inventionrelates to an apparatus for developing and/or copying of light-sensitiveor not light-sensitive papers and like objects, said apparatus beingprovided with guide faces for guiding these papers etc. through adeveloping tank above which a number of rollers are provided forpressing together the sheets or like objects.

This known apparatus has a disadvantage in that the developing cisternor tank has a large volume, so that it contains a large quantity ofdeveloping liquid. If one has to make only one or a few light-sensitivepapers with such an apparatus it is nevertheless necessary to putsubstantially the same quantity of liquid in the developing tank. It istrue that the liquid used for this purpose can be put into a bottle andstored until it is needed again for making fresh copies but the qualityof such a liquid deteriorates considerably during storage. Moreover itis a cumbersome work.

The present invention avoids these disadvantages in that the liquidstorage tank is closed and is connected by at least one conduit with thetank for the developing bath in such a manner that a substantiallyconstant liquid level is always maintained in this last-mentioned tankwhilst owing to a change of the position of the liquid storage tank withrespect to the tank containing the developing bath the liquid containedin this last-mentioned tank can be introduced in the liquid storagetank. If the lowermost guide face also constitutes the bottom of thedeveloping tank this tank may be of very small size, so that it containsonly very little liquid. If it is necessary to make a great many copiesthe liquid storage tank constantly supplies fresh liquid according tothe consumption of developing liquid, so that also the advantage isobtained that the liquid level in the developing tank is keptautomatically constant.

A favourable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention ischaracterized in that the liquid storage tank is connected with asidewall of the developing tank, this connection being effected in sucha manner that the storage tank can be brought from a position in whichit acts according to the bird cage water bottle principle into aposition in which the liquid or part thereof in the developing tankilows back into the storage tank. The emptying of the developing tank iseffected automatically after bringing the storage tank in thelast-mentioned position, so that one needs not omit this from love ofease. Moreover, one obtains the advantage that the cleaning of thedevice can be done quickly and easily. To this end it is only necessaryto use a storage tank which has been filled with water. It is onlynecessary to bring this storage tank a few times from one position intothe other position in order to clean the developing tank.

According to the invention a simple design is obtained by connecting thestorage tank with the developing tank by means of two ilexible tubes orlike objects of which the one is connected to the bottom of thedeveloping tank and the other connects at substantially the height ofthe liquid level in the developing tank.

2,762,281 Patented Sept. 11, 1956 As in the apparatus according to theinvention a place for the storage tank-is required said apparatus can bemounted with advantage on an exposure apparatus. In this manner oneobtains a combined exposure and developing copying apparatus occupyinglittle space.

According tothe present invention the apparatus can be provided with asecond liquid storage tank capable of containing a quantity of liquidwhich is considerably larger than that of the liquid in the developingtank, this second liquid storage tank being also so positioned withrespect to the developing tank that it can only supply liquid to thisdeveloping tank up to a predetermined level. lf required, this secondliquid storage tank can be given such dimensions as to render itpossible to work the apparatus for a whole day without interruption.After termination of the work the iirst liquid storage tank is turned inthe position for taking liquid from the developing tank, so that theliquid contained in this tank flows into the said first storage tank.This offers the advantage that the liquid in the second liquid storagetank is not contaminated with liquid which has already been used. Whenthe work is resumed the first liquid storage tank is turned in such amanner that the liquid contained therein liows into the developing tank.Thereafter the second liquid storage tank sees to it that the liquidlevel of the developing tank is kept constant. This design of theapparatus presents the advantage that the latter is suitable forcontinuous use, that is for treating a great number of light-sensitive,and/or non light-sensitive or like papers or sheets as well as for`making only a few copies of the papers or sheets without a largequantity of liquid being contaminated.

According to the invention the second liquid storage tank is secured tothe developing tank by preference in a detachable manner, so that it canbe removed when required, for instance if one wishes to take along theapparatus and to treat only a few papers or sheets.

The second liquid storage tank can be provided with a closing means, forinstance a conical cap so that this tank can be put in or out ofoperation at will. Also the second liquid storage tank can be connectedwith the developing tank by means of a rubber hose which can be pinchedif the supply of liquid is to be interrupted.

A favourable embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention ischaracterized in that the developing tank is provided with a tube forconnecting the second A liquid storage tank, one end of this tubeterminating above the liquid level in the developing tank and the otherend being connected with this developing tank in such a manner that theconstant liquid level in this developing tank can be maintained.

The second liquid storage tank can be so designed that it can assume atleast two positions whereby it is possible in the first position tosupply liquid from this tank to the developing tank whilst in the otherposition the or each liquid discharge tube or like means has such alocation and/or direction that no liquid can flow out of this secondtank.

The invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanyingdrawing showing, by way of example, an embodiment of the apparatusaccording to the invention.

Figure l shows a portion of this apparatus partly in side elevation andpartly in section.

Figure 2 is a partial cross section of the said apparatus seen in thedirection of the second tank.

Figure 3 shows a portion of the apparatus in front elevation.

The apparatus shown in the Figures l and 2 is mounted on a box 1 andcomprises a frame 2 in which a developing tank 3 has been provided. Thebottom of the said developing tank also serves as a guide face for thecopies V6 andV theV bottom three,V spaces are formed. When thisVapparatus is used for transferring two negative copies in positive formunto the two sides of a sheet which is provided at both sides Withrasensitive layer, this sheet is stuck between the Yguide faces 4 and 5whilst the two negatives are introduced into the spaces between theguide faces 3, 4 and 5, 6 on both sides of the first-mentioned space andare guided through the liquid in the developing tank towards two rollers7 and 8 which press these sheets together in order to effect eventuallya chemical transfer (diffusion). In order to obtain a rapid drying ofthe reproductions the rollers may eventually press part of the liquidheld by the sheets out of the latter.

At the side of the developing tank 3 a liquid storage tank 9 is providedconnected by two tubes or hoses 10 V.and 11 or other connecting meanswith the developing tank 3 in such a manner that the liquid storage tank9 can beY turned from its shown position-in which it keeps, togetherwith the developing tank 3, the level in the latter tank constant in themanner of a bird cage water bottleinto the position indicated in dottedlines. The tube or hose 10 is connected in such a Way to the lowerportion of the side wall of the developing tank 3 that in thelast-mentioned position the liquid in the tank 3 ows back into thestorage tank, so that Vwhen the apparatus is not used this liquid is notexposed with a large surface to the inuence of the atmosphere. In thisposition of the storage tank the tube 10 can be closed, if desired, withthe aid kof a clamp or in a similar way. This closing can also beeffected by bringing the storage tank in its second position in Vsuch amanner that the hoses are pinched automatically, by providing a meanseffecting this operation when the storage tank is turned.

The tube 11 is connected substantially at the height of the liquidVlevel in the developing tank'. WhenV liquid from the developing tank isused, liquid from the storage tank 9 ows through the tubev 10 into thedeveloping tank 3 whilst air bubbles through the tube 11 into thestorage `tank 9. This ensures a regular supply of liquid to thedeveloping tank 3 as it is not necessary for the air to ow against thedirection of the arriving liquid.

Instead of using a developing tank of which the bottom is constituted bythe lowermost guide face itis also possible to provide a small reservoirunder this guide face as indicated in dotted lines 14. In this way anyexisting developing apparatus can be rebuilt quickly according to theinvention, as this small reservoir vis provided with 'stumps to whichthe Vhoses or tubes 10, 11Vof the liquid storage tank 9 can beconnected.

As may be seen from Figure 2 a second liquid storage tank y12 isprovided adapted to supply liquid through a tube 13 to the tank 3. Thistube 13 ends at such a distance from the bottom of the tank 3 that theliquid level in this tank is kept constant. The tank 12 comprises aclosing means with the aid of which the supply of liquid may beinterrupted at will.

It is to be noted that the second liquid storage tank Vmay also bedesigned in such a manner that it can assume at least two positions,namely one position in which the tube or tubes destined to supply theliquid to the developing tank projects into the said developing tank atthe correct height, and another position in which the said tube or tubesare pointed upwards in such a manner that no liquid can iiow from thissecond liquid storage tank. For this purpose the second storage tank canbe provided for each of these two positions with a iiat face with whichit may rest on arsupporting face. The said storage tank may also beadapted to be tipped over, turned, locked or to have another suitabledesign.

I claim:

l. In an apparatus for producing copy by diifusion transfer upon contactbetween a reproducing sheet and a copy sheet, each of which had beenpreviously wetted with a developing uid, an enclosed housing having aninlet at one end and an outlet at theother dimensioned to enable thesheets to pass atwise therethrough, a bottom wall extending downwardlyfrom the inlet end portion of the housing and upwardly curvilinearlytoward the outlet with the lowermost portion therebetween, one or moreguide plates extending downwardly from the inlet toward the lowermostportion of the bottom wall and in spaced relation therewith for feedingthe sheets into the housing with a separated relation therebetween, apair of fluid passages vertically spaced one from the other through thehousing with the lowermost portion of the bottom wall and the other at alevel above the lowermost ends of the guide plates but below the inletand outlet of the housing, a fluid container having a pair of passagesin one end portion for passage of fluid therethrough, means mounting thefluid container for shifting movement between a raised position in whichthe passages are lowermost in the container to bring the level of theHuid in the container above the uppermost passage through the housingand a lowered position with the passages at the top of the container tobring said passages at a level below the lowermost passage through thehousing, and exible means communicating the lowermost passage throughthe housing with one of said passages in the container and the uppermostpassage in the housing with the other opening in the container whereby,when the container is in raised position, uid flows from the containerinto the housing to maintain the fluid therein at a level correspondingto the uppermost passage through the housing and, when the container isin its lowered position, iiuid ows through the lowermost passage fromthe housing to the container to drain uid from the housing.

2. In an apparatus for producing -copy by diffusion transfer uponcontact between a reproducing sheet and a copy sheet, each of which hadbeen previously wetted with a developing uid, an enclosed housing havingan inlet at one end and an outlet at the other dimensioned to enable thesheets rto pass i'latwise therethrough, a bottom wall extendingdownwardly from the inlet end portion of the housing and upwardlycurvilinearly toward the outlet with the lowermost portion therebetween,one or more guide plates extending downwardly from the inlet toward thelowermost portion of the bottom wall and in spaced relation therewithfor feeding the sheets into the housing with a separated relationtherebetween, a pair of fluid passages vertically spaced one from theother through the housing with the lowermost portion of the bottom walland the other at a level above the lowermost ends of the guide platesbut below the inlet and outlet of the housing, a fluid container havinga pair of passages in one end portion for passage of fluid therethrough,means mounting the uid container for shifting movement between a raisedposition in which the passages are lowermost in the container to bringthe level of the iluid in the container above the uppermost passagethrough the housing and a lowered position with the passages at the topof the container to bring said passages at a level below the lowermostpassage through the housing, and exible means communicating thelowermost passage through the housing with one of said passages in thecontainer and the uppermost passage in the housing with the otheropening in the container whereby, when the container is in raisedposition, fluid flows from the container into the housing to maintainthe uid therein at a level corresponding to the uppermost passagethrough the housing and, when the container is in its lowered position,uid ows through the lowermost passage from the housing to the containerto drain uid from the housing, a pair of squeeze rollers aligned withthe curvilinear end portion of the bottom wall for receiving the sheetsupon passage therefrom.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 which includes power means forrotating the squeeze rollers for delivery of the sheets passingtherethrough to the outlet of the housing.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the guide plates terminateshort of the lowermost section of the bottom Wall.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 in which the bottom Wall forms a meansfor guiding the sheets through the housing.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the bottom wall is in theform of a basin in which the fluid is received in the depressed portionsthereof with the ends of the bottom wall terminating short of the inletand outlet.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the exible meansinterconnecting the container with the housing comprises separateflexible conduits extending continuously from the passages of thehousing to the passages of the container.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 which includes a second liquidstorage container of greater capacity than the iirst and meansdetachably mounting the second conn tainer onto the housing and meanscommunicating the second container with the housing for passage ofliquid therefrom to the housing and means for maintaining the liquidsupplied therefrom Within the housing at a predetermined level above thelowermost ends of the guide plates but below the inlet and outlet.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 in which the second container ismounted for shifting movement between a liquid-supplying position and aposition in which no liquid ilows therefrom into the housing.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

